GINZAN ONSEN, JAPAN – Ginzan Onsen, also known as “Silver Mountain Hot Spring,” in Japan‘s Yamagata prefecture has become famous again after TikTok and YouTube influencers shared the obscure location with the world outside of Japan. Known for hundreds of years as a town to relax and restore, Ginzan only has a few shops and restaurants and closes early to those not staying on-site in an effort to preserve the natural beauty of the place.
Photos and videos usually show the town covered in snow and it has served as inspiration for animes and movies. When we visited, the town was actually rainy and we had just missed a snow storm. I was initially disappointed in this, but then changed my mind after I saw how beautiful the town is.
Things to love about GInzan Onsen town:
Excellent food that you shouldn’t miss
It’s true in almost country that obscure locations usually have so-called hidden gems. I had the best soba noodles of my life in Ginzan Onsen town though. I was blown away with how good the quality was. There weren’t too many options at the restaurants available, but they were all top-notch and as a food and travel writer, I highly recommend Ginzan partially for this reason.
Scenic views embedded with nature that will leave you with memories
Sprinkled around the town there are small spots to dip your feet in natural hot water from the springs. The town goes to bed quite early and there is a peacefulness to this. It also helped that our ryokan hotel that we booked had a view of the waterfall at the end of the town that is just phenomenal. The peak of the hotel had a hot spring overlooking the waterfall and we made sure to go exploring in the town, which has an abandoned mine as well during the daytime. It’s a true escape.
Shops with unique items for purchase
The little souvernir shops around the Ginzan Onsen town had so many unique items for purchase. Make sure you bring cash to be able to purchase items, most won’t take card.
There was plenty that made Ginzan Onsen town worth the trip in my opinion, but there are also some challenges if you are planning to make a trip. Here are items to watch out for.
Things that I wish I knew beforehand visiting Ginzan Onsen town:
Transportation is quite difficult
The train station that will connect you to Ginzan stops in a small town, but with few ATMs and a very old school transportation system (very unlike bigger cities in Japan). For this reason planning ahead is a must. I almost felt like we were taking a big risk when waiting for the bus and eventually boarding it, because there is very little signage and the bus station was filled with foreigners and very few Japanese people. Most people had wanted to visit the town, but had no idea how to get there or what they were doing.
The bus we took did not drop us off at our hotel, but our hotel did offer pickup at the bus stop if we would have called them, but we didn’t and instead we carried our luggage up a big slope, which wasn’t the best experience. Make sure to consider this when heading into town.
Also, due to the lack of transportation, you will have to be very punctual and attentive to travel needs, it is very easy to miss the last bus or not be able to take one, which could impede your other plans in Japan. Communication and planning is key.
Snow is hit or miss and weather is hard to predict
Despite all the beautiful photos and videos, it does not snow all the time in Ginzan. I went in December and it was still quite rainy. You might want to aim for January for peak snow. Japan’s weather cycles has been warming, and that makes plans for places like Ginzan Onsen town or Hokkaido more challenging for those of us hoping to partake in winter activities or sights.
ATMs and convenience stores are scarce
As I said before, there are few ATMs both heading into Ginzan Onsen town and at the town itself. For this reason be sure to grab cash before. Also there is a lack of convenience stores so make sure to pack snacks before you head into town.
We were lucky that our ryokan had unlimited beer and also some snacks that made this more comfortable, but it definitely feels strange to not have a convenience store available when they are so common around most of Japan.
As a traveler, what I mean is be prepared if you need to bring certain items or goods.
Ginzan Onsen town is worth the trip.
Despite any small drawbacks, Ginzan Onsen town is well worth the trip. I definitely want to return again one day. There were so many beautiful hotels and ryokans spread around the town. I will definitely plan to return again one day and I do recommend this for an escape from the hustle and bustle of life.
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About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a writer and journalist with over 15 years of experience. I write the food and travel blog Carlos Eats (https://www.carloseats.com​​​) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines on numerous topics.
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